Everything you need to know about dwarf dachshunds

If you decide to have a miniature lap dog, then you should pay attention to dwarf dachshunds or their even smaller brothers - rabbit. This is an ideal version of an apartment four-footed pet, which, due to its small dimensions, will perfectly fit even into a small Khrushchev and will become your loyal and cheerful friend.

Just do not discount its hunting qualities, which will have to find peaceful use. Therefore, before starting a mini-dachshund, you need to study its character well, learn how to care for it and what to feed it, as well as how to choose the right puppy.

At the end of the 19th century, Germany set out to create a kind of dachshund that could easily crawl into the holes of the smallest rodents (ferrets, rabbits, foxes, badgers). To do this, it was necessary to reduce the standard rate in size, while maintaining its hunting qualities. And the breeders did it. This is how the dwarf dachshund appeared, which weighed only 5 kg, almost 2 times less than its predecessor., and after her, an even smaller version was created - a rabbit dachshund, with a maximum weight of 3.5 kg. The nature of the new subspecies of the breed remained the same as that of their older counterparts, they differed only in their more modest dimensions compared to them.

All dachshunds, including dwarf ones, very bright and characteristic appearance.

• The main features of the breed are its short stature and long stocky body, which helps the dogs to crawl into the deepest holes.
• Another distinctive feature is the very short, but thick and powerful legs. Moreover, the front limbs are much stronger and stronger than the hind ones, since they perform a more important function - with them the dachshunds dig up the ground in order to get to their prey. Feet may be slightly bent, but this is not a breed defect. Dachshunds run quite quickly and, thanks to their good endurance, are able to cover very long distances.
• Despite the small size, the muscles of this breed are highly developed. They have a dense body with a wide protruding chest and a long tail.
• The dachshund's muzzle also cannot be confused with any other breed. The head of the dog has an elongated shape, tapering towards the nose, large ears drooping at the sides and strong jaws.
• The weight of an adult dwarf dachshund can reach a maximum of 6 kg, and a rabbit even less - 3.5 kg. The growth of the first varies from 16 to 25 cm, and the second grows in height from 10 to 15 cm, males are usually taller than bitches.
• But the main parameter by which the type of dachshund is determined is the girth of the sternum. In dwarfs, this figure is 30-35 cm, and in rabbits - less than 30 cm. It is on the basis of the volume of the chest (or OGK) that a specific type of dachshund is determined. However, this can only be done after she reaches one year of age.

Also, when choosing a puppy, you need to see what at least one of his parents looks like to make sure that you have not been sold a standard dachshund instead of a mini one.

By color, the dachshund can be divided into three types.

• Monochrome (or pure) - these dogs are uniformly colored, their color can be red, chocolate or pale yellow.
• Bicolor, while one of the colors always dominates, and the second is a few tones lighter and is located, as it were, in the form of separate spots on the body. The main color, as a rule, is black or brown, which is complemented by light areas on the tips of the paws, on the sides of the muzzle and in the chest area.
• Tricolor or spotted (most often they are marble or brindle) - these are the rarest and most unusual varieties of dwarf dachshunds.

Dwarf dachshunds have a cheerful, life-loving and affectionate character. They make excellent companion dogs that love to communicate with their owner and are ready to follow him anywhere, accompanying him on long walks. However, in order to get such a devoted and obedient four-legged friend, you need to actively engage in raising him.

Dachshunds need constant contact with the owner, this is especially important in puppyhood, when the character and habits of the dog are formed. She cannot be alone for a long time - out of boredom, the dog will begin to destroy everything around: scratching the wallpaper, tearing things, ruining shoes and what “does not lie well”. Therefore, if you are not ready to give your pet enough attention and your time, then it is better to give preference to another breed.If the dachshund is left to itself, then you will get an aggressive, wayward and disobedient dog that will do whatever it pleases, not recognizing the authority of the owner.

Dachshunds are very active people who need to throw out their energy somewhere. Therefore, they need long walks (3 times a day for at least half an hour each). While walking, you need not only to walk a fairly long distance, but also to play with your pet and work out commands. They also need to somehow realize their hunting instinct. Therefore, they love to dig holes and hunt for everything that moves: birds, fish, mice.

Since the blood of hunters flows in their veins, they are characterized by such qualities as perseverance, patience, stubbornness and incredible courage. However, with improper upbringing or none at all, these character traits can reach an extreme degree and turn into stubbornness, willfulness and complete disregard of the will of the owner. It is advisable to work out with your pet at the dog handler. You can start doing this as early as 4 months of age.

During training, it is preferable to use positive reinforcement, that is, give the dog a treat or praise him for the correct action. In no case should you be rude to the dachshund, shout at it, let alone beat it. These dogs are very touchy, vindictive and will brutally take revenge on you for humiliating their canine dignity. The dachshund should have only one person, whom it will consider the owner. However, she perceives all family members as her flock and treats them kindly and with love.

Since the dachshund is a very self-centered dog with a great sense of self-esteem, it is desirable that she be the only four-legged pet in the house, otherwise jealousy of other pets is inevitable, which can result in serious aggression towards them. Knowing the characteristics of the dwarf dachshund, you can decide whether it is right for you or not.

It is scientifically proven that the life expectancy of small dogs is longer than that of large brethren - their body wears out more slowly. Dwarf dachshunds live on average up to 12 years. But with proper nutrition and good care, they can surpass the 15-year milestone. And if your pet is lucky not only with the owner, but also with genetics, then he has a chance to meet even his 20th anniversary.

To prolong the life of your four-legged friend, you need to follow these simple recommendations.

• In order to prevent viral diseases, you need to vaccinate your pet every year, as well as protect it from ticks during the period of their activity.
• Regular visits to the veterinarian and taking tests 2 times a year will reveal a possible disease or malfunction of an organ at an early stage. After all, it is known that it is better to prevent a disease than to cure it later.
• Sterilization of bitches and castration of males prevents tumors of the genitals, and in females - also of the mammary glands.
• One of the weakest points in a dachshund is the spine. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid excessive stress on him and various injuries that the animal can receive by jumping even from a small hill - a chair or sofa.

Mini dachshunds can vary not only in coat color, but also in length and texture. According to this parameter, they are usually divided into three types:

• short-haired (or smooth-haired);
• long-haired;
• wire-haired (the rarest species).

With short-haired dachshunds the least of all, since the length of their hair does not exceed 3 cm. It is enough to wipe these dogs after a walk with a wet cloth, and the brush can be used no more than 1-2 times a week.Long-haired and wire-haired dachshunds have significantly richer hair and undercoat, which means they will need additional care - periodic haircuts and daily combing.

These two species differ from each other quite strongly. They have different hair texture.

• Long-haired hair is soft, smooth and delicate to the touch, slightly curly. The longest hair is on the ears - because of this feature, in full face, they somewhat resemble spaniels. Wavy "strands" hang down from the sides, the chest just below the neck is also covered with thick curly hair, and a fluffy tail crowns the body.
• Wire-haired dachshunds are distinguished by abundant vegetation mainly on the face - they have a mustache and a beard, which makes them look a little like terriers. They also have elongated, coarse, coarse hair on the chest and body, although their length is shorter than the previous type.

The main difference between the dwarf dachshund and the usual one is only its dimensions - height at the withers, sternum girth and weight. They are smaller than the standard variety. It can also be noted that mini-dachshunds have a more stubborn, wayward and obstinate character than their ancestors.

For the rest of the indicators (color and length of wool and other external parameters), all representatives of this breed are almost identical. Hunting qualities are developed equally in both ordinary and small dachshunds.

You should buy a puppy in a kennel, which has all the necessary documents to carry out activities for breeding dogs. Preference should be given to experienced breeders who have been successfully working in the market for a long time. When choosing a nursery, you can be guided by the recommendations of friends or at least read reviews about a particular "seller" of taxes on the Internet. You can also seek advice from the cynological community.

A conscientious breeder must provide the future owner with all the necessary documents: veterinary and puppy passports, as well as the pedigree of the dog. A purchase and sale agreement must be concluded between him and the future owner of the puppy, confirming the fact of the concluded transaction.

It is imperative to get information about the puppy's parents, it is advisable to see the mother and ask for a photograph of the father, to find out his character. By the appearance, parameters and behavioral characteristics of parents, one can judge what their baby will be like when he becomes an adult. This data is especially important if you plan to use their offspring for breeding or participating in exhibitions.

And finally, the most important stage is the direct selection of the puppy. The tips below will help you determine which baby to make a four-legged member of your family.

• Assess the puppy's appearance. He should be of medium build: not overfed and too plump, but not thin and bony. Choose a puppy with a well-defined muscular corset and a straight, no sagging tail and back.
• One of the main parameters is the quality of the wool. It should be silky and shiny, and its color should be rich and vibrant. A dull cover may indicate health problems or a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. Also, the coat should be uniformly thick, not have bald patches and dandruff.
• A wet nose, clean ears and lack of purulent discharge from the eyes are essential ingredients for a healthy puppy.
• Be sure to open and inspect the baby's mouth. Normally, the gums and tongue of the little "taxis" are bright pink, and there should be as many teeth in the mouth as it should be at his age.

Observe all the little ones and choose an energetic, playful, funny and courageous puppy, but not aggressive towards his siblings. A puppy with pronounced leadership qualities can give you a lot of trouble with its stubborn wayward character - you will have to spend more time, energy and nerves on raising it.

For a small pet you need an eye and an eye. His curiosity and increased activity can lead to damage to your property, especially at the stage when the baby is teething. Therefore, hide your shoes, wires and all your belongings away from the puppy's teeth, and instead invite the little bully to chew on toys and bones from the pet store.

Dachshund care should be comprehensive. It should definitely include regular brushing of your teeth. This is an unpleasant procedure for dogs, so you need to start doing it as early as possible so that your pet gets used to it. Teeth are brushed to get rid of plaque and to prevent tooth decay and tartar. This is done with special veterinary drugs at least once a week.

Also, from an early age, the dog needs to trim its nails. "Manicure" can be done in a veterinary clinic or at home by purchasing special tweezers. But when carrying out this procedure yourself, one must be careful not to touch the part of the claw where the blood vessels already begin.

Taking care of your dachshund's coat is also very important, especially if it is long. The hairline must be regularly combed out with a special comb. First, they follow the direction of hair growth, and they scratch not only the back, chest and abdomen, but also the paws and tail, and then brush them in the same places, but against the fur. This massage will not only help prevent tangles and get rid of dust and loose hair, but also improve blood circulation and remove excess sebum.

If the dog's coat has ceased to shine, and even more so it has begun to fall out strongly, then this is a reason to consult a doctor and pass the necessary tests. The reason may be unhealthy diet, lack of nutrients, as well as various diseases.

Once every 3 months, the pet needs to be treated from internal and external parasites. With the first anthelmintic drugs fight, and the second are destroyed with the help of drops on the withers. Since dachshunds, especially short-haired ones, are very thermophilic, in cold weather they need to be walked in warm clothes, and in rainy weather - in waterproof overalls. After a walk, they wipe their paws with a damp and then dry cloth. Once or twice a month, the dogs are washed with a special shampoo in warm water. It is not recommended to bathe small dachshunds under six months of age. Do not be lazy and regularly examine your pet's ears, clean them with a cotton swab from wax. If you suspect an ear mite, contact your veterinarian right away. Since the dwarf and rabbit dachshunds are mini-dogs, they can be trained to walk in the tray at home.

This is one of the main questions facing a person who has a pet. If it became a dwarf dachshund, then you need to take into account the fact that this breed has a great tendency to obesity. So, in no case should you overfeed it, since excess weight leads to shortness of breath and other serious health problems.

First of all, you need to decide on the type of food: whether it will be "drying" or natural food. But keep in mind - you need to choose one thing, you cannot combine industrial feed and natural food, since these two types of food are digested in the stomach in different ways.Their combination will lead to disruption of the function of housing and communal services.

If you have stopped your choice on dry food, then give preference to premium brands - cheap food contains mostly flavoring colors, and expensive food contains more protein and other ingredients necessary for dogs.

The advantages of dry food over natural is that it is balanced - it contains all the vitamins and microelements necessary for dogs in the right proportions. But, of course, the daily dosage cannot be exceeded - the amount of the daily requirement, depending on the weight of the animal, is indicated by the manufacturer on the package.

If you decide to feed a four-legged pet "natural", this does not mean that you need to give him food from your table. Salty, peppery, spicy and fatty foods are contraindicated for dogs, so you will have to cook separately for your four-legged pet. Dachshund requires a large amount of protein - it can be obtained from meat (chicken or beef) and lean fish, you can also give cottage cheese, eggs and dairy products.

It is better to boil the meat, since raw meat contains more protein, but at the same time there are more helminths, which is why the pet will have to be worm-driven more often. Pork for dogs, especially for dwarf dachshunds, is a prohibited food, as it is very fatty. Long bones should also not be given to dogs - they can damage the sensitive esophagus of small dogs. In addition to protein, the dog's diet must include energy sources - carbohydrates. They are found in cereals, it is better to choose buckwheat, oatmeal or rice, you can even mix them. Cereals are boiled in water or in meat broth. The last option for dogs is the most preferable - such porridge will smell like meat.

Be sure to give the dachshund fruits and vegetables - either in natural form, or in the form of vitamin and mineral supplements that are sold in pet stores. Sweet for a dwarf dog is contraindicated. You can't feed her with cookies, sweets, chocolate.

Food should not be given to dachshunds immediately after preparation. - it needs to be cooled a little so that your pet does not burn its mouth and throat. The food must be fresh. After your four-legged friend has eaten, the cup of food must be removed. But water should be available at all times. It is enough to feed an adult dachshund 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening, but at the same time. And it is advisable to do this not before, but after the walk - it will be much harder for your pet to walk on a full stomach.

Puppies up to six months require 5 meals a day, closer to 6 months, you can reduce it to 4 times a day. After six months, in adolescence, food should be given to dachshunds 3 times a day, and starting from the age of one, the feeding should be reduced to 2 times.

Any dog ​​needs communication with the owner, and the dwarf dachshund, because of its character, especially. If you give your little pet attention, care and affection, then he will repay you with incredible love and devotion.

In the next video, you can take a look at the dwarf dachshund in motion.